Marriage Foundation
Championing stable committed relationships for the long-term benefit of families — especially children.
What are we?
Marriage Foundation is a registered charity founded in 2012. It is often described as a “think tank”. We use original, high-quality research, public engagement and policy shaping and analysis to reinforce confidence in marriage and civil partnership as the most stable foundations for family life — especially for children. We especially focus on understanding why stability matters and what helps relationships to last.
By highlighting how marriage and civil partnership contribute to stronger families and better outcomes for children, we aim to be the public voice of marriage and stable commitment. We regularly author and publicise the best and latest research evidence via high quality reports supported by broad media engagement.
Why this matters:
Family stability plays a vital role in children’s wellbeing, educational outcomes and life chances. Research consistently shows that children are more likely to thrive in all areas of life when they grow up in secure, loving homes with adults who are formally committed to one another by marriage or civil partnership.
Evidence repeatedly shows that couples in marriage and civil partnerships are significantly more likely to stay together than those who cohabit informally. Strengthening stable commitment is therefore not just a private matter, but a matter of significant public benefit.
What we do:
Marriage Foundation:
- Publishes original research and analysis on relationship trends and family stability.
- Shares evidence through media, commentary and public debate.
- Works with charities, practitioners and policymakers to strengthen relationships.
- Supports policy development that recognises the value of marriage and civil partnerships.
Our goal is simple: to help create a culture where marriage and civil partnership is valued and supported — because when families are strong, children flourish, and society benefits.
Our Values
At the heart of our work is a deep concern for children and their wellbeing — physical, emotional and psychological.
We champion marriage and civil partnership not as a supposed marker of morality, but because evidence shows that formal commitment provides greater stability and security for adults and children alike.
We recognise that relationships sometimes end, and that separation can sometimes be the healthiest or safest outcome. We respect and support the many single parents and co-parents who provide loving, stable homes for their children, and we value the organisations across the UK who support families at every stage.
We are not “marriage at all costs”. True commitment depends on safety, equality and mutual respect. We abhor all forms of abuse or coercion, and believe every child deserves secure, loving and stable adult commitment.
Our Impact
Ensuring the voice of marriage remains a priority in our national conversation.
Since our launch in 2012, Marriage Foundation has been at the forefront of public debate on family life through its research, media engagement and policy input.
Our work continues to inform national conversations on family stability, contributes to policy discussions, and provides readilty accessible evidence to journalists, politicians and decision-makers.
Our Story
Marriage Foundation was founded in 2012 by Sir Paul Coleridge, after a total of 40 years working in the family justice system (including fourteen as a High Court judge).
“After decades in the family justice system, I saw the destruction caused to families and children by family separation. I founded Marriage Foundation to advocate and highlight the evidence that formal commitment such as civil partnership can really bolster stability and so improve outcomes for children.”
~ Sir Paul Coleridge
Media and Research Enquiries
Marriage Foundation provides research briefings, commentary and expert spokespeople on relationship trends, family policy and child wellbeing.
For media enquiries, please contact: [email protected]
Join Us
Family stability benefits everyone. Whether you are single, married, in a civil partnership, cohabiting, separated, or working to support families, we share a common goal: to give every child the security of lasting love and stability.
Join us as we promote commitment with compassion, evidence and hope.